In college, it’s a really wonderful thing to take full advantage of the gym membership often included in tuition. Memberships to outside gyms can be so expensive, and often times, college campuses boast newer and more extensive fitness facilities than other gyms around town, anyway.
After a while, however, your regular gym routine can start to seem stale. If you go to the gym at the same time of the same days of the week, perform the same exercises, or spend the same amount of time on the exact same cardio machine, you probably know exactly the feeling I’m talking about. I, like so many others, started to desire a change in my fitness routine. How could I continue to honor my body by giving it exercise in a way that wasn’t boring or mundane?
Enter Group Exercise. I was a skeptic at first—I thought that I preferred to work out alone, on my own terms, and under my own rules—but I decided to try a few classes during the preview week at our campus gym. What I discovered in Group Exercise has absolutely astounded me, helped me grow personally and as an athlete, and has completely transformed my relationship with exercise. Here are a few of the many reasons the Group Exercise is the best.
1. The variety of class styles helps to keep your workouts fresh.
In Group Exercise, I have discovered passions for different forms of exercise that I would have never ventured into on my own terms. Les Mills’ BodyCombat, for example, has transformed me into a devout kick boxer, even though I attended my first BodyCombat class completely by accident, thinking it was a different session. Most campuses offer a huge variety of class formats, ranging from yoga and AquaFit to HIIT classes, strength training classes, and even dance-based classes like Barre and Zumba.
2. There are trained professionals to guide you through your workout—you don’t even have to decide what to do.
This was something I struggled with most when working out on my own. How much is “enough?" What exercises should I perform to strengthen my shoulders? How can I increase flexibility? If you have questions like these, consider attending a Group Exercise class. The instructors are trained and paid to help make sure your workout is safe and effective.
3. Instructors and other participants are there to help motivate you.
The one hesitation most people have towards group exercise is a fear of being judged by others in the class. In actuality, most people are so focused on working hard themselves that there is no time for judgment at all! Most interactions between participants involve motivating one another—cheering a partner on in pair exercises and friendly competition between sides of the room can minimize judgment and help increase your own performance.
4. Attending certain classes regularly can help you stick to your exercise goals.
If you try out different classes and find a few that you really like, adding them into your weekly routine is easy. Most group exercise programs offer the same classes several different days and times throughout the week, making it possible for you to attend when it is most convenient. Incorporating a few classes each week as a part of your schedule can often help keep you consistent.
5. Music can be a powerful motivator.
Your favorite songs can be a lot more exciting blasting through loud speakers than they would be through a pair of headphones. Being surrounded by fast-paced, energizing music and enjoying the tracks during a group exercise class helps power a more dynamic workout, while also helping time pass quickly. If you have a song you’d like to hear in a class, ask the instructor. Often times, they will be happy to add it to the playlist!
6. Group exercise helps form unique, tightly knit relationships.
There are few things that bond people more closely than working hard, breaking a drippy sweat, and powering through exercise alongside one another. Although each person experiences the same workout differently, all participants work together towards the common goal of completing the class. Group exercise allows people to build themselves up alongside others and join in the celebration of doing something good for the body.
If group exercise classes are outside your comfort zone, I urge you to push yourself and give one a try. If you don’t enjoy it, consider choosing another. The feeling that comes from finding and attending your favorite classes is well worth the effort.
